Overview & Reviews

For more than 100 years now, Ford Motor Company has been selling mass-produced automobiles in the United States and around the globe. Known as one of the Big Three American manufacturers, Ford has attracted millions of loyal customers with a wide range of vehicles that offer considerable value. The automaker's trucks and SUVs have been especially popular. For decades, Ford's F-Series truck has been the best-selling vehicle in America.

The company was founded by Henry Ford in 1903. Ford dreamed of building a car for the masses, and that's precisely what he did, most notably with the immortal Model T of 1908-'27. The latter was bought by 16.5 million Americans during its 20-year lifespan and was affordable enough for Ford's own factory workers to purchase. Ford's early years were also distinguished by its introduction of the moving assembly line. It was the first to utilize this more cost-effective method of production, and its innovation became a mainstay of the manufacturing process.

Ford expanded into the luxury-car market with its purchase of Lincoln Motor Company in 1925. Over the next few years, the company broadened its focus even further by creating the Mercury division to produce mid-priced cars. By the late '30s, Ford had unveiled the stylish Lincoln Zephyr, introduced a low-priced V8 engine and built more than 25 million vehicles.

The 1950s saw the introduction of the legendary Thunderbird. Offering sleek styling and spirited performance wedded to available luxury features like power windows and a signal-seeking radio, the car was a huge hit. Another model of that decade, the Edsel, met with a somewhat less enthusiastic reception. In the wake of abysmal sales, the Edsel was discontinued just a few months into its third model year.

Ford regained its footing in the early 1960s with the introduction of the compact Falcon, a model that was warmly received by the public. By the middle of the decade the automaker had given enthusiasts something to cheer about with the launch of the sporty Mustang, a car that went on to become one of the biggest sellers of its day. Buyers adored the Mustang's low price, available powerful V8 engines and sporty styling. The Mustang even created a brand-new vehicle category: the pony car.

By the 1970s, Ford, like other domestic automakers, was starting to suffer the effects of changing consumer tastes and new government regulations. Many of its cars became shadows of their former selves. But the seeds of rebirth were planted in this decade. In 1979, the company acquired a stake in Mazda; this move would later aid Ford significantly in co-development projects. The company also emerged with a new mindset of global competitiveness.

By the mid-to-late '80s, Ford was showing new strength with its popular Escort and Taurus models while further expanding its empire with the purchase of the Aston Martin and Jaguar brands. Meanwhile, its full-size LTD sedan (later renamed the Crown Victoria) remained a staple of taxi companies and police forces throughout America.

Ford rode a wave of popularity in the 1990s, thanks in part to the huge success of its Explorer midsize SUV. The truck played a huge role in ushering in the era of the SUV. In 1999, Ford expanded its family yet again with the purchase of Volvo's car division, and, in 2000, it acquired Land Rover. For awhile, there was talk of Ford even taking General Motors' spot as the No. 1 automaker in the world.

But the new millennium initially saw a downturn for Ford. Increased competition, a continuing operating loss for Jaguar, legacy costs and a reliance on SUVs for profit took their toll. To compensate, the company sold Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo and introduced a wave of successful new products. Models like the F-150, Fusion, Fiesta, Focus, Flex and Mustang have allowed Ford to regain its health and standing as a very competitive manufacturer.

User Reviews:

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  tyrannical tranny - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By lisa - November 12 - 6:53 am

  Had this vehicle less than 2 years and with only 62k miles it needs a new transmission. Of course the warranty is expired. All of the mechanics are aware of this problem with the 2004 tranny - and apparently so is Ford Motor Company!

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  Comfort for tall drivers - 2006 Ford Focus
  By Great ZX3 - November 12 - 5:52 am

  I have owned my ZX3 for almost a year and it has been perfect. The seats are awesome on short and long trips. After driving 12 hours, no back pain at all. The faster you go, the funner it is to drive. I get around 26mpg in town and 34 mpg on the open road. Im 62" and it is the most comfortable car out there to drive (much better than my 2003 Monte Carlo). The fun factor for driving is a 10+.

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  2001 gt - 2001 Ford Mustang
  By pcpham - November 12 - 2:00 am

  Only probs i had was that when you shift from first to second, there is a loud noise and you can feel the transmission shaking. didnt notice it in a 2002 test drive. also, squeeky noises from the rear suspension. took it into ford but they couldnt find a problem.

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  Almost lost my life - 2001 Ford Explorer Sport
  By i0love17 - November 12 - 2:00 am

  I got my explorer in the summer and it was great and really no problems. Well i was totally wrong. Everytime i hit a pothole or a little crack in the road i felt my tires slid from underneath me and it was so scary. The winter wasnt to bad. But in august of this year i was on my way to a bears game and it was dry and i hit a pothole and slid off the road rolled three times and plus 7 months pregnant. So i wasnt driving like a maniac. It felt the tires losing grip and it was the worst thing in the world and spent 9 days in the hospital and thank god my baby was ok but it was awful. I loved my truck but hate it, especially for that reason.

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  good car - 1999 Ford Taurus
  By kellie - November 11 - 11:29 pm

  My first car was a 90 Taurus and I beat that poor car to death. I was in a very bad accident in the Jeep that I owned before purchasing my current Taurus, so I wanted a car that was safe. I love the handling, the get up and go, and the car is incredibly comfy. However, the brakes are AWFUL, I have already had to replace them 2 times. Also, my car started chirping very loud, like a bird when it was cold (right after purchase). I was very upset thinking the guy sold me a ticking time bomb, but my Dad changed my transmission fluid on a whim and it has been quiet ever since. The previous owner used the wrong fluid. Overall I am very happy with my car. I got a very good deal on it.

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  Still love this car! - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By ucdavisdiva - November 11 - 10:25 pm

  As a "Volvo only" car buyer I was reluctant to buy a Ford. This car has been great (I got 7 seats, leather, split 3rd row seat) and I still rave about it. This car fit all my requirements: no minivan, no SUV, good gas mileage, seats 7, fits the canoe, fits the tandem, easy to get in and out of...this car has it all! I personally find it to be fine in power on the highway, much better than the Volvo we had and weve towed a lot. This summer we loaded an 18 ft. canoe, 4 people, one large dog, a Thule box and camping gear for a week and it all fit comfortably. The gas mileage is great and I drive a lot in the city. I hope this car last 10 years cause were keeping it.

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  Expedition For Travel - 2006 Ford Expedition
  By MACKEY - November 11 - 7:09 pm

  While getting only about 14 MPG in city, the XLT does better than predicted on the highway, with most average rates running around 20MPG (with no air conditioning running). Expect to drop 2 MPG for the air. It is comfortable and highly maneuverable on the road.

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  Ford Never Again - 2004 Ford Expedition
  By t.jones67 - November 11 - 5:11 pm

  I drive my Ford for work. Most of my miles are highway miles. The air conditioner went out early on. At 46,600 miles the transmission is out. It is out of warranty. The dealership did pick up $1000 of the $2k bill. A transmission should not go out at 46k miles. Funny thing is I had a Taurus that the air went out early and the transmission dropped at 60k. Ford seems to have problems with these. This is the last Ford I will ever buy. If you have to have a Ford-buy the extended warranty.

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  Good car for the $$ - 2006 Ford Focus
  By Jason - November 11 - 12:32 pm

  I got this car brand new in March, I Had 3 things at the top of my want list for my new vehicle purchase. 1~ Under $15K new. 2~ averaged over 26-mpg. 3~ Good warranty. Well my 2006 Focus SE is all of that and then some. My purchase price was $12,550, that was with auto transmission, power windows/locks etc. The car drives and handles great, I am averaging 29-MPG so far, so Im happy with that. (Ive put 15,500 miles on it so far). Overall great car.

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  Great vehicle for the money! - 2000 Ford Taurus
  By Logan - November 11 - 12:19 pm

  We bought our 2000 Ford Taurus SEL in 2005. It had 86,000 miles on it and was fully loaded we paid only $5,700 from a private seller. It was in good condition and still is. Since weve only owned the car for 2 years, I cannot tell you the reliability for its lifetime, but since weve owned it, weve only had a couple of problems with it. A couple of weeks after we bought it, some sort of a spring or something broke. Not a big deal it wasnt a lot of money to have fixed. One speaker sometimes doesnt work on the Mach audio system, which we are going to try and have fixed. Overall this car is a great value for the money.